After Chen Yu and Wang Dazhuang saw Xu Liang, they were very excited, saluted Xu Liang solemnly, and said a lot of emotional words after getting up.

For the two, Xu Liang can be described as their reborn parents. Originally, Chen Yu and Wang Dazhuang were just ordinary blacksmith households in Shaanxi, but because they could read and write, they were selected by Xu Liang as the first batch of candidates to test the Flying Eagle Cannon. Later, after reading Xu Liang's plan for making gunpowder, the two stood out among a dozen blacksmiths and became experts in gunpowder and forcination.

Xu Liang looked at the two of them with a smile, and saw that Chen Yu was nearly sixty years old, and his spirit was still very good, and it seemed that it would not be a problem to dedicate himself to Liang Jun for a few more years.

"I haven't seen you for two years, and both of you are doing well?" Xu Liang asked with a smile.

"Thanks to your concern, we are fine, we are all good." Chen Yu and Wang Dazhuang hurriedly replied respectfully.

The three of them talked cordially for a while, and Xu Liang smiled and said, "The two of you are in a hurry to see me, but what important things do you have to say?" ”

Chen Yu patted his head and said, "I'm patronizing and chatting with adults." This time, the subordinates and Wang Dazhuang were anxious to meet the adult, because there was an important discovery to report to the adult. ”

"Oh? Let's hear it. Xu Liang was intrigued by Chen Yu's words. The two of them were in charge of studying artillery and gunpowder, and their important discoveries must have been extraordinary.

Chen Yu rubbed his hands and said, "My lord also knows that the biggest obstacle to limiting the output of the gunpowder factory is the shortage of raw materials nitrate and sulfur. In the past two years, although the personnel of our munitions department have continued to purchase nitrate and sulfur in various places, the quantity is too small to meet the large-scale needs of the Flying Eagle Artillery. ”

Xu Liang nodded. Although the flying eagle cannon is at stake, the lack of gunpowder has always been the shortcoming of the Liang army. Xu Liang's heart moved. Excitedly stood up and asked, "What." Have you found a solution to the shortage of nitrate and sulfur? ”

Chen Yu smiled and said, "Exactly." ”

"Quick, quick!"

Chen Yu thought for a while, sorted out his thoughts, and said slowly: "Things have to start from June last year......

The Arms Department under the leadership of Chen Yu has tried everything to increase the production of gunpowder. After searching the entire northwest and finding nothing important, Chen Yu set his sights in a farther direction: the Western Regions!

So after Chen Yu and Wang Dazhuang discussed, they quietly sent a team of more than 20 people. Dressed as a caravan, they passed through Gansu Wei, and actually managed to enter the west of Qilian Mountain, and came to a place inhabited by nomads. There, the group traded goods with local herders while searching for news of nitrate and sulfur. It happened that a local man was seriously ill, and among the people sent by Chen Yu was a soldier with Lang Zhong, who reported the psychology of trying it out, so he went to see a doctor for this man. The results turned out to be promising. The sick man is very grateful to this Central Plains people, and after coming and going, the two sides gradually became acquainted. It was in this thorn that Chen Yu's people got the news that saltpeter and sulfur were produced somewhere in the local area!

Xu Liang looked at Chen Yu and Wang Dazhuang excitedly. If it weren't for the fact that the other party was two big men, Xu Liang couldn't help but go up and give them a warm hug.

Xu Liang praised Chen Yu and Wang Dazhuang: "Good, very good!" The two of them have made such a great achievement. This official is rewarded! He immediately ordered someone to take two thousand taels of silver and rewarded Chen Yu and Wang Dazhuang with one thousand taels each. Furthermore. For the team of twenty people, Xu Liang also gave each person a reward of two hundred taels of silver.

After Chen Yu and Wang Dazhuang accepted the reward. Xu Liangcai remembered something and asked, "What kind of thorn did you say?" Isn't it the chief there? ”

Chen Yu chuckled and shook his head, and said, "My lord, the regime in that place is very different from our Ming Dynasty. The supreme leader of the place is called Sutan, and under Sutan, he is the leader of the various city-states. And the full thorns, well, they are similar to the abbots and Taoist chiefs of our Ming Dynasty, except that their prestige is much higher than that of the abbots and Taoist leaders in the temple. ”

Xu Liang frowned and listened, indicating that he didn't understand. Seeing this, Chen Yu and Wang Dazhuang bothered to explain for a long time, and Xu Liang finally sighed: "Aren't you talking about Western missionaries!" ”

Chen Yu's eyes widened when he heard this, and he shouted repeatedly: "Yes, yes, Lord Manthorn once said that they are missionaries. ”

Later, Xu Liang asked how big the place was to the west of Qilian Mountain, and what kind of regime it was. Chen Yu and Wang Dazhuang both described them one by one. According to the two of them, that place is extremely wide, almost the size of a Shaanxi province. However, the population is very small, and the city is not large, and the city covering an area of five or six miles is considered a big city. In the whole area, there are almost a dozen or twenty cities.

"What's the name of that place?" Xu Liang finally asked.

Chen Yu thought for a moment, and then said a name that shocked Xu Liang: "Tulupan." ”

"What?" Xu Liang thought he had misheard, and asked with wide eyes again.

"Turpan!" Chen Yu replied again.

Turpan? Xu Liang couldn't help but want to laugh, this place name is not unfamiliar to Xu Liang at all.

Seeing Xu Liang's strange expression, Chen Yu couldn't help asking, "My lord, what's wrong with you?" ”

Xu Liang shook his head and said, "It's nothing." Uh, you go on. ”

"Yes." Chen Yu owed, and then said: "Through that full thorn, the munitions department bought thousands of catties of saltpeter and sulfur from Turpan three times before and after. Moreover, they are very much in need of the cloth, pig iron, tea and medicinal herbs that we have sent us. The thorny, uh, his name is Carl. Karl Manthorn is very eager to cooperate with us further, and the envoy he sent has been living in Pingliang Mansion for almost two months. ”

Xu Liang's eyes lit up suddenly, and he stroked his palms and smiled: "Okay, it's very good." ”

For Xu Liang, in addition to pig iron, he could get as much cloth, tea, and medicinal materials as he wanted. The thought of being able to exchange these things for the coveted nitrate and sulfur in Turpan made Xu Liang wake up laughing when he slept.

Subsequently, Xu Liang carefully inquired about the situation in Tulupan, and then ordered the kitchen to prepare a sumptuous banquet and dine with the two heroes, and then sent Tsing Yi guards to escort the two out, and sent people to Pingliang to bring the messenger of Karl Manchu and Liang Ji's shopkeeper Wu Side to Chang'an Mansion.

Two days later. Xu Liang met alone with the envoy from Turpan in the governor's yamen, under the watchful eye of the envoy with tears in his eyes. Xu Liang immediately made a decision and would form a caravan. Long-term cooperation with Turpan's Karmanchu Thorn.

The Messenger's gratitude is expressed in practical actions. He crawled to Xu Liang's feet and kissed Xu Liang's upper very reverently.

Xu Liang handed over a gift that had been prepared to the envoy, and politely sent the envoy away, and after Chen Yu and Wang Dazhuang accompanied the envoy out of the governor's yamen hall, Xu Liang immediately took off the pair of shoes that had been stained with someone's saliva, and ordered someone to dare to take them and wash them quickly.

Those who stayed were all Xu Liang's henchmen: the tax department promoted Luo Baiguan, the head of the Tsing Yi Wei stall and the head of Liang Ji's store, Wu Side.

The three subordinates saw that Xu Liang had a new pair of shoes, and after they sat down, Luo Baiguan reminded: "My lord." Although the court prohibits the trade of goods with foreign countries, for the sake of gunpowder, we can't take care of it. However, the subordinates still want to remind that things like cloth, tea, and medicinal herbs have nothing to do with the overall situation, but the pig iron transaction should be cautious. Not my race. Their hearts must be different, and this has to be guarded against. ”

Xu Liang nodded, looked at Wu Side, and said, "This is exactly what this official wants to say to the shopkeeper Wu." Everything else is easy to say. When it comes to armaments and materials, without my warrant, not a pound or a tael can be transported. ”

Wu Side saw that Xu Liang said solemnly. I listened carefully at the moment and nodded solemnly. Said: "My subordinates must follow the instructions of my lord. ”

Xu Liang said: "The matter of trade with Turpan will be handed over to the shopkeeper Wu." Don't use Leung Kee or the official name. And to do these things in the name of local caravans. As for the supply of ordinary goods such as cloth and tea, the official has already sent a letter to Ge Qiao of Southern Tongtianxia Logistics, and the goods are not a problem. Also, when your people arrive in Turpan, while maintaining a close relationship with Namanchu Karl, they should also look for opportunities to get in touch with the local high-level. What kind of city boss over there, the bigger the business, the better. It's best to get in touch with them directly! ”

The things that Xu Liang commanded, Wu Side wrote down them one by one.

In the preparation of the caravan, Wu Side set up a caravan as quickly as possible, and on the third day, it was loaded with goods, and set off with the envoys of Naturpan to the Western Regions.

When the caravan left the city, Xu Liang stood on top of the city tower and watched quietly. The sky was not beautiful, and there was a drizzle. The head of the Tsing Yi guard held an umbrella next to Xu Liang to shield Xu Liang from the raindrops.

On the street near the city gate, two tax collectors from the tax collection department were coming out of a restaurant, and the shopkeeper of the restaurant sent the two tax collectors out with a smile on his face, and when the tax collector entered the next store, the restaurant shopkeeper snorted hatefully, flicked his long sleeves, and flashed back into the restaurant.

Seeing this scene in his eyes, Xu Liang sighed quietly: "It seems that Chang'an merchants still don't accept the new tax law." ”

Tietou chuckled on the side: "Young master, businessmen are the most profitable. For many years, the merchants paid the lightest taxes, and they were used to it, and for a time they were asked to pay for it every month, but of course they were unwilling. Oh, I heard that the town guard eunuch in Shaanxi has abolished the mining tax for the young master, and it has been included in the management of commercial taxation, and he has a private opinion, and he said some ugly and cruel things. ”

Xu Liang paused slightly and asked, "What is the name of this new town guard eunuch?" ”

Tietou said: "The surname is Ma." ”

Xu Liang smiled, shook his head and said, "It seems that this Ma Gonggong's eyesight is not very good, he didn't think about how the former eunuch died?!" Hum! Find a moment to make him disappear. The mining taxes have been cancelled, and Shaanxi still has to guard the eunuchs to do something! ”

Iron Head answered.

Xu Liang began to walk down the tower with his feet raised, and Tietou and a group of Tsing Yi guards hurriedly followed. Stepping on the steps unhurriedly, Xu Liang suddenly asked Tietou: "A while ago, the governor Yamen reported that the court had heard from the court about the filling of vacancies by Shaanxi officials?" ”

The iron head shook his head and said, "It's like a stone sinking into the sea." Uh, by the way, young master, the people of Dongchang Governor Yu Gonggong have entered Qingyang, Shaanxi. It is expected that he will enter Chang'an in these two days. ”

Xu Liang sighed slightly and asked, "How many people are here in Dongchang?" ”

Tietou said: "More than two hundred people." ”

Xu Liang nodded, stopped asking, and went down to the street.

Xu Liang originally thought that the Dongchang Factory Governor Yu Gong Guild would go to Chang'an Mansion to announce the decree to take people, but three days later, instead of seeing Yu Gonggong's people, he got a report, and Yu Gonggong stayed in Qingyang Mansion for a day, and then turned to Yansui Mansion again.

The governor of the three sides, Yang He, was in Yansui.

The inner courtyard of the Yansui Governor's Yamen was heavily guarded, and to the surprise of the sergeants of the Governor's Yamen, it was not the people who were in charge of the guard, but the Dongchang factory guards.

In the living room of the inner courtyard, there were only four people sitting. Yang He, the governor of the three sides, Hong Chengchou, the governor of Yansui, Yu Gonggong, the governor of Dongchang Factory, and one more, but Wang Pu, the chief soldier of the Beijing camp.

Governor Yang had a decree in his hand. The contents of the decree have already been read by all four people present, and the big guys are silent.

Dongchang Factory Governor Yu Gonggong smiled gloomily, like a duck's voice and asked: "Lord Governor, Lord Governor, the emperor's will has also been read, when will we start?" ”

Hong Chengchou frowned, glanced at Yang He, the governor of the three sides, and saw that he didn't mean to answer, so he coughed lightly twice and said, "Gonggong Yu, Chief Bing Wang, the emperor's meaning and Governor Yang both understand. It's just that now Xu Liang has a heavy army in his hands, and he is very vigilant, if we transfer troops to approach Chang'an City according to the emperor's wishes, what if Xu Lianggou jumps over the wall in a hurry and raises troops to fight? Could it be that I can't kill each other? ”

Dongchang Factory Governor Yu Gonggong squinted at Hong Chengchou, swept his gloomy gaze on Governor Hong's face, and said in a strange manner: "Lord Hong is not right? The governor remembered that in Chang'an City, the troops of the original commander were all broken up by Xu Liang and divided between He Huchen and He Renlong, two reckless men! Now stationed in Chang'an City are the soldiers and horses recruited by Xu Liang privately! Since it is a private recruitment, can it still be regarded as a Ming soldier? ”

Hong Chengchou listened, lowered his face, and said in a deep voice: "Even Xu Liang's private army, stationed in Chang'an, has 30,000 people. You asked this official and Governor Yang to transfer 10,000 soldiers and horses to accompany the general army of Wang, and fight 20,000 against 30,000? Does the factory think that this will have a chance of winning? ”

Factory Governor Yu Gonggong snorted lightly and sneered: "Lord Hong seems to have forgotten a little, there are not only Xu Liang's private troops in Chang'an City, but also the Shaanxi Three Divisions, Chang'an Mansion, Jinyi Wei Xi'an, Shaanxi Yuanma Temple, the town guard eunuchs, etc., those people are loyal to the court!" As soon as our army arrives, the Governor is confident that the soldiers and civilians of the city will turn against each other, and open the gates of the city to welcome us into the city. ”

Hong Chengchou finally found that it was a very serious mistake to analyze the situation with this above-eyed supervisor of the East Factory, so he simply stopped answering and shut up.

Seeing this, Father-in-law Yu said angrily: "This governor can't manage so much. The emperor's holy purpose is this, what to do, the two adults weigh it! ”

Governor Yang finally spoke, he looked at the holy decree in his hand, and said, "Everything should be done according to the emperor's will." ”

Gonggong Yu and Mr. Wang were finally satisfied.

At this moment, the Dongchang factory guards who were guarding the door knocked on the door. (To be continued.) )